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Expert: Terry B - 5/5/2009


Question
hi, i have a question- im a 21 year old female and the other day i used a public toilet- i dont usually sit on public toilet seats but i was busting and had to sit- so when i used toilet paper to wipe myself, front to back, i looked at it after doing so and noticed to the side of it was some blood on the paper- not on my strip of wee but to the side of it- some lady whether it was the person right before me, im not sure had got blood underneath the seat and when i wiped i accidentally wiped a bit of the blood on my toilet paper- im not sure if it was far enough over to not have touched my vagina/anus openings and only touched the sides of my leg/bottom or not and now im so so so worried i might have HIV. the blood was quite fresh so if it was person before me would have been like 30 seconds old. im terrified and i have to wait 3 months to get tested! im scared. is it possible for me to have it?

Answer
Dear Tels:

Peace.  There's not any significant HIV risk in what you describe.  Any blood to which you might have been exposed was small in amount, short if at all in duration of the exposure.  I don't see you as being at HIV risk at all from this incident.  

Best to you and yours,

Terry

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Terry B

Expertise

Help in assessing personal and professional risk of HIV transmission; tips in teaching about HIV/AIDS; cultural competency for teaching about HIV/AIDS in Catholic settings; considerations in US and overseas HIV/AIDS programs and education for health and other professionals. Specific questions about treatment should be referred to your health provider; opinions and information offered are not meant to replace medical advice

Experience

Seven years with academic medical center and national AIDS education and training center, seven subsequent years with focus on international HIV/AIDS in East and South Africa. Former clinician, bioethics preceptor at an academic medical center and presenter in wide range of fora including international AIDS conference.

Organizations
Disabled American Veterans American Public Health Association MENSA AA

Publications
Human Variety, EC Sociological Society Proceedings of the International AIDS Conference, Durban, South Africa "HIV and Primary Care"

Education/Credentials
BS Psychology MPH Master of Public Health PhD studies underway

Awards and Honors
Naval School of Health Sciences, Hospital Corps with Highest Honors, Neuropsychiatry with Honors and High Distinction

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